About the Blog:

Guelph Politico is locally sourced and dedicated to covering the political and cultural scene in the City of Guelph. Est. 2008.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Deal Between Metrolinx and CN Paves Way for All-Day GO Train

The Province of Ontario has announced this morning that they've vaulted the biggest hurdle in getting all-day, two-way GO Train service going between Toronto and Kitchener. Metrolinx and CN Rail have reached an agreement, in principle, that will allow those green and white trains to start moving through the region on a more regular basis.

According to the Ontario government news release, the agreement will see CN begin the technical and planning process to move freight operations from tracks they currently use between Georgetown and Bramalea, to a new set of tracks that will free up the line for more GO trains during the day. There's no timetable on when all-day service will begin, but in the meantime, the government announced today that it has also agreed to invest $43 million in the Region of Waterloo's proposed transit hub in downtown Kitchener, which will connect GO buses and trains, with VIA Rail, Greyhound, Grand River Transit buses and the ION light-rail system.

"Under our Moving Ontario Forward plan, our government is committed to providing accessible, modern transit infrastructure that will manage congestion, reduce commute times, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Ontarians," touted Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca in the release.

In the meantime, GO train service will be expanding by two trains a day both ways this September when Metrolinx extends peak morning and afternoon train trips from Georgetown to Acton, Guelph, and Kitchener. In addition, GO will also be running express bus trips from Kitchener to Bramalea GO come September so that commuters can access all-day train service from that station.

"We are strengthening the backbone of regional transit by introducing even more GO train and bus service to Kitchener," said Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx. "These new services will make it easier for people to leave their cars at home and take transit to get where they need to be."